Research on the status of the irrigation and drainage network in Iran based on the viewpoint of water users and experts using SWOT analysis

Abstract

In many arid and semi‐arid regions, such as Iran, traditional irrigation systems consume a large proportion of surface water and groundwater resources. In the last few decades, due to the undesirable effects of climate change and continuous drought, many studies have been conducted on reducing threatening factors using the capacity of irrigation and drainage networks and participating water users in irrigation management. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the irrigation and drainage network of the Varamin Plain using the SWOT model that is an analytical model used based on the results of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the subject, considering the cooperative management of water users. In addition to conducting interviews, a questionnaire was used to collect data from two groups of network water users and experts. According to the results, the farmers and water users of the network are in a relatively good situation in terms of access to water, possibly due to the available three annual planting seasons (due to the existence of irrigation and the drainage network and the use of grey water, conditions for irrigation and crop cultivation are available in four seasons of the year). The most critical concerns of the water users were the lack of knowledge about the organization of water collectors, the inconsistency among governmental organizations and the insignificant action of the Agricultural Jihad Organization (a government ministry in Iran to advance agricultural goals and all related matters) in solving issues related to water rights. Failure to inform the users about the costs of creating network infrastructure, maintaining facilities and canals, not accepting water shortage conditions and the state of groundwater resources, consecutive cropping seasons throughout the year, cultivation of crops with high water demand, people with political and social influence obtaining excess water rights, and the lack of coordination among related governmental policies were the most critical concerns of the experts.